Galatians 1:11-2:21
New International Version
Paul Called by God
11 I want you to know, brothers and sisters,(A) that the gospel I preached(B) is not of human origin. 12 I did not receive it from any man,(C) nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation(D) from Jesus Christ.(E)
13 For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism,(F) how intensely I persecuted the church of God(G) and tried to destroy it.(H) 14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous(I) for the traditions of my fathers.(J) 15 But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb(K) and called me(L) by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles,(M) my immediate response was not to consult any human being.(N) 17 I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.(O)
18 Then after three years,(P) I went up to Jerusalem(Q) to get acquainted with Cephas[a] and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 I saw none of the other apostles—only James,(R) the Lord’s brother. 20 I assure you before God(S) that what I am writing you is no lie.(T)
21 Then I went to Syria(U) and Cilicia.(V) 22 I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea(W) that are in Christ.(X) 23 They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith(Y) he once tried to destroy.”(Z) 24 And they praised God(AA) because of me.
Paul Accepted by the Apostles
2 Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem,(AB) this time with Barnabas.(AC) I took Titus(AD) along also. 2 I went in response to a revelation(AE) and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles.(AF) I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race(AG) in vain. 3 Yet not even Titus,(AH) who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.(AI) 4 This matter arose because some false believers(AJ) had infiltrated our ranks to spy on(AK) the freedom(AL) we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. 5 We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel(AM) might be preserved for you.
6 As for those who were held in high esteem(AN)—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism(AO)—they added nothing to my message.(AP) 7 On the contrary, they recognized that I had been entrusted with the task(AQ) of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised,[b](AR) just as Peter(AS) had been to the circumcised.[c] 8 For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle(AT) to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle(AU) to the Gentiles. 9 James,(AV) Cephas[d](AW) and John, those esteemed as pillars,(AX) gave me and Barnabas(AY) the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me.(AZ) They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles,(BA) and they to the circumcised. 10 All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor,(BB) the very thing I had been eager to do all along.
Paul Opposes Cephas
11 When Cephas(BC) came to Antioch,(BD) I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James,(BE) he used to eat with the Gentiles.(BF) But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group.(BG) 13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas(BH) was led astray.
14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel,(BI) I said to Cephas(BJ) in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew.(BK) How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?(BL)
15 “We who are Jews by birth(BM) and not sinful Gentiles(BN) 16 know that a person is not justified by the works of the law,(BO) but by faith in Jesus Christ.(BP) So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in[e] Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.(BQ)
17 “But if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we Jews find ourselves also among the sinners,(BR) doesn’t that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not!(BS) 18 If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a lawbreaker.
19 “For through the law I died to the law(BT) so that I might live for God.(BU) 20 I have been crucified with Christ(BV) and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.(BW) The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,(BX) who loved me(BY) and gave himself for me.(BZ) 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law,(CA) Christ died for nothing!”[f]
Footnotes
- Galatians 1:18 That is, Peter
- Galatians 2:7 That is, Gentiles
- Galatians 2:7 That is, Jews; also in verses 8 and 9
- Galatians 2:9 That is, Peter; also in verses 11 and 14
- Galatians 2:16 Or but through the faithfulness of … justified on the basis of the faithfulness of
- Galatians 2:21 Some interpreters end the quotation after verse 14.
Galatians 1:11-2:21
King James Version
11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,
16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.
20 Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.
21 Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;
22 And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:
23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.
24 And they glorified God in me.
2 Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.
2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
3 But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:
4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
6 But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:
7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.
11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Galatians 1:11-2:21
Christian Standard Bible
The Origin of Paul’s Gospel
11 For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel preached by me is not of human origin. 12 For I did not receive it from a human source and I was not taught it, but it came by a revelation(A) of Jesus Christ.(B)
13 For you have heard about my former way of life(C) in Judaism:(D) I intensely persecuted(E) God’s church and tried to destroy it. 14 I advanced in Judaism beyond many contemporaries among my people, because I was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors.(F) 15 But when God, who from my mother’s womb set me apart and called(G) me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son(H) in me, so that I could preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone.[a] 17 I did not go up to Jerusalem(I) to those who had become apostles(J) before me; instead I went to Arabia(K) and came back to Damascus.(L)
18 Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem(M) to get to know Cephas,[b](N) and I stayed with him fifteen days. 19 But I didn’t see any of the other apostles except James,(O) the Lord’s brother. 20 I declare in the sight of God: I am not lying in what I write to you.
21 Afterward, I went to the regions of Syria(P) and Cilicia.(Q) 22 I remained personally unknown to the Judean churches that are in Christ. 23 They simply kept hearing, “He who formerly persecuted(R) us now preaches the faith(S) he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God because of me.[c]
Paul Defends His Gospel at Jerusalem
2 Then after fourteen years I went up again(T) to Jerusalem with Barnabas,(U) taking Titus(V) along also. 2 I went up according to a revelation(W) and presented to them the gospel I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those recognized as leaders. I wanted to be sure I was not running, and had not been running, in vain. 3 But not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. 4 This matter arose because some false brothers(X) had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus in order to enslave us. 5 But we did not give up and submit to these people for even a moment, so that the truth(Y) of the gospel would be preserved for you.
6 Now from those recognized as important (what they[d] once were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism[e](Z))—they added nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised,(AA) just as Peter(AB) was for the circumcised, 8 since the one at work in Peter for an apostleship to the circumcised was also at work in me for the Gentiles. 9 When James,(AC) Cephas,[f](AD) and John(AE)—those recognized as pillars(AF)—acknowledged the grace that had been given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to me and Barnabas, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 They asked only that we would remember the poor,(AG) which I had made every effort to do.
Freedom from the Law
11 But when Cephas[g] came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned.[h] 12 For he regularly ate with the Gentiles before certain men came from James. However, when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, because he feared those from the circumcision party. 13 Then the rest of the Jews(AH) joined his hypocrisy,(AI) so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were deviating from the truth of the gospel, I told Cephas[i] in front of everyone, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile(AJ) and not like a Jew,(AK) how can you compel Gentiles to live(AL) like Jews?” [j]
15 We are Jews by birth and not “Gentile sinners,” 16 and yet because we know that a person is not justified by the works of the law(AM) but by faith in Jesus Christ,[k] even we ourselves have believed in Christ Jesus. This was so that we might be justified by faith in Christ[l] and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will[m] be justified. 17 But if we ourselves are also found to be “sinners” while seeking to be justified by Christ,(AN) is Christ then a promoter[n](AO) of sin? Absolutely not!(AP) 18 If I rebuild(AQ) those things that I tore down, I show myself to be a lawbreaker.(AR) 19 For through the law I died to the law,(AS) so that I might live for God.(AT) 20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.(AU) The life I now live in the body,[o] I live by faith in the Son of God,(AV) who loved(AW) me(AX) and gave himself(AY) for me.(AZ) 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law,(BA) then Christ died(BB) for nothing.
Footnotes
- 1:16 Lit flesh and blood
- 1:18 Other mss read Peter
- 1:24 Or in me
- 2:6 Lit the recognized ones
- 2:6 Or God is not a respecter of persons; lit God does not receive the face of man
- 2:9 Other mss read Peter
- 2:11 Other mss read Peter
- 2:11 Or he was in the wrong
- 2:14 Other mss read Peter
- 2:14 Some translations continue the quotation through v. 16 or v. 21.
- 2:16 Or by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ
- 2:16 Or by the faithfulness of Christ
- 2:16 Lit law all flesh will not
- 2:17 Or servant
- 2:20 Lit flesh
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